BERHAMPUR: Paying respect to the State’s maritime history, people in Ganjam thronged the water bodies in the district to set sail tiny boats. While almost all the ponds and river banks in the district witnessed a good gathering, Gopalpur-on-Sea had over 50,000 devotees who sailed the toy vessels while humming ‘Boita’ songs.
Gopalpur sea lit up at daybreak as toy boats sailed with lamps, betel leaves, crackers, fruits and coins. To mark the occasion, Ganjam Hotel Owners’ Association organised a public meeting at Gopalpur where speakers recalled the rich maritime history of Kalinga. Toy boats could also be seen floating in Rushikulya, the Badanadi and other rivers and water bodies.
Various organisations, including Tailika Vasya Samaj, organised programmes at Haridakhandi, Aina bandh (pond) and Gudi bandh in the Berhampur city. Members of Tailika Vasya Samaj prepared a special thermocol boat of 12 ft height for the occasion. The Haridakhandi water tank was earlier cleaned by members of the intelligentsia for the rituals.
According to history, the ancient Odia traders used to set sail on Kartik Purnima in their ‘boitas’ (boats) for distant islands like Bali, Java and Sumatra. In fact, the sight of large number of colourfully dressed Odia women performing ‘boita bandana’ today is nothing but a reminiscent of the voyages of the adventurous Kalingas of yore.
Historians are of the view that the ancient sea voyages from Odisha coast were mostly for commercial activities which led to frequent interaction between people of Kalinga and South East Asia, particularly Indonesia island of Bali. With increased maritime activities, Indian immigrants started arriving on the islands in large numbers. Tamralipi, Palur and Chelitola were the thriving ports of Kalinga through which maritime trade relations were maintained with the South-East Asian countries. Though the ancient ports in the Odisha coast have now become inactive through gradual silting up of the river mouth and maritime trade is almost extinct, the memory continues to be relived through the annual celebration of ‘Boita Bandana’.